'Voice of the Cavaliers' not shy about sharing NBA opinions

Monday

It was basketball time Monday at Tozzi’s on 12th. The Hall of Fame Luncheon Club had a grand time listening to Joe Tait let his colorful opinions fly.

It was basketball time Monday at Tozzi’s on 12th. The Hall of Fame Luncheon Club had a grand time listening to Joe Tait let his colorful opinions fly.

Here’s what the longtime “voice of the Cavaliers” had to say about:

- LeBron James starting to get some of the calls Michael Jordan used to: “The older officials are not giving him much. Some of the younger guys are. Why not? It’s show biz.”

- The Wizards beating the tar out of James without drawing any suspensions:

“I don’t understand it. Ronnie Nunn is in charge of officials. I remember when Ronnie worked (as an official). He needed help.

“Pray for the NBA front office. They need all the help they can get.

“Maybe it’ll get through to the cement heads in New York. LeBron James is rating points for TV.”

- The importance of closing out the Wizards in Game 5 at Cleveland: “Nobody wants to go back to Washington. We just spent five days in Washington. A lot of congressmen don’t spend five days in Washington.”

- On Wednesday’s tipoff time riding on what happened in Monday’s Lakers-Nuggets game: “TV is the tail that wags the dog. That tail gets bigger and meaner every year.”

- Chances in a series against a Celtics team that went 66-16 in the regular season: “I don’t think we can beat Boston, but I think we can give ’em a lot better series than we gave San Antonio last year.”

- Wally Szczerbiak, who is averaging 25.8 minutes and 8.8 points in the playoffs: “I don’t think he will be great. He can be a contributor.”

- One reason Kobe Bryant will win the league MVP award: “Enough time has passed, I guess, since his problems with the hotel maid.”

- LeBron vs. Kobe: “LeBron is a team player. He is not at all resented by his teammates. They know how good he is. ... One thing about Kobe. The four spectators wearing the same color underwear know they’re not gonna see the ball unless they rebound.”

- On Jason Kidd not working out for Dallas: “Anything that makes Mark Cuban upset, I’m all for.”

- On James staying in Cleveland after his contract expires: “If this team provides him with the team and the quality people, and he feels the team can win a championship, he’ll stay. He really likes it here. Some newspaper people can’t seem to get that through their thick skulls.”